Smoke-consuming furnace.



PATENTBD MAY 9, 1905.

W. L. JACKSON.

SMOKE GONSUMING FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10. 1906.

2 SHEETSSHBET 1.

m. m M 0 w mm atliomq No.789,611. PATENTED MAY9, 1905 W. L. JACKSON.

SMOKE OONSUMING FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ITE TA'TES Patented May 9, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

SMOKE-GONSUMING FURNACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 789,611, dated May 9,1905.

Application filed February 10, 1905. Serial No. 245,107.

To all whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM LEAF J ACK- soN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Brookland, in the District of Columbia, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Smoke-Consuming Furnaces, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to steam-boiler and similar furnaces, and has forits principal object to provide a construction of furnace in whichpractically all of the fuel is consumed and waste and annoyance from theescape of smoke prevented.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel form ofsmoke-consumer which may be applied to existing furnaces at a minimumexpense and which may be readily rcnewed or repaired when damaged.

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafterappear, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangementof parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings,and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understoodthat various changes in the form, proportions, and minor details (if thestructure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificingany of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectionalelevation of a smokeconsuming furnace constructed in accordance with theinvention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same on the line2 2. of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a detail view of the smokeconsuming orgas-forming arch detached.

Similar letters of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The drawings illustrate an ordinary horizontal return-flue tubularboiler A, set in brickwork B in the usual manner. C is the fire-box,located at the front end of the boiler. D is the front bridge-wall. E isthe combustion-chamber, located beneath the boiler and back of thebridge-wall and extending upwardly to embrace the boiler at its majordiameter. F is the vertical return-passage establishing communicationbetween the combustion chamber E and the rear ends of the return-Huesat, extending longltudinally through the boiler, and G is thesmoke-stack at the front of the boiler, com municating with the frontends of the boiler return-fines. These several parts thus far referredto are or may be of the construction usual in return-flue steam-boilerfurnaces.

At a point above the grate H, and preferably intermediate its length, isarranged a perforated arch I, there being one or more arches, inaccordance with the length of the grate. Each arch is formed of asuitable refractory material, preferably of blocks or bricks oflire-clay, the blocks being of a size to permit convenient handling andof such shape as to form a self-supporting arch. The blocks are providedwith any desired number of passages J of a shape and size depending onthe size of the furnace and the quality of the fuel.

The bottom of the arch is arranged but a short distance from thegrate-surface and preferably comes into contact with the mass of fuel onthe grate, so that free draft under the arch is interfered with. Abovethe arch is a transverse wall K to prevent the passage of the productsof combustion over the top of the arch.

In operation the mass of fuel in front of the arch I will become more orless coked and will yield up a large proportion of smoke and heavycarbonaceous gas, which will not be entirely consumed in front of thearch, but is compelled to pass through the openings J. The arch beingexposed to the direct action of the heat will become incandescent to agreater or less extent, and the gases in passing through the openings Jwill be very highly heated and will be thoroughly consumed when broughtinto contact with the mass of burning fuel at the rear of the arch. Theheat is found suflicient to convert practically all of the products ofcombustion into fixed gases, and in practice it is found that nounconsumed carbon issues from the stack (Jr. As the fuel is consumed itis pushed back under the arch from time to time and fresh fuel is'addedin front of the arch.

In many cases a single arch proves insufficient, and asecond or thirdarch may be added, as required.

It is obvious that by forming the arches of blocks of convenient sizerepairs may be readily made, and it is further obvious that the devicemay be built into existing furnaces of any type, including flue,tubular, and locomotive boilers, at comparative small expense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a smoke-consuming furnace including a grate, a perforated archarranged above and intermediate the ends of the grate, dividing thecombustion-chamber into two separate spaces, each of which may receiveair through the grate to support combustion of the fuel, the bottom ofthe arch being sufficiently near the grate to make contact with a normalsupply of fuel.

2. In a smoke-consuming furnace, a grate,

an imperforate wall dividing the combustionchamber into front and rearcombustionspaces, each of which is arranged to contain a supply of fuel,and to receive air through the grate for supporting combustion, thelower portion of said wall forming an arch that is provided withperforations for the passage of the gaseous products of combustion,whereby such products are retained in the lower portion of thecombustion-chamber and emerge directly over the mass of fuel in the rearcombustion-space.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two subscribingWitnesses.

W'ILLIAM LEAF JACKSON. lVitnesses:

JAs. H. BLAOKWOOD, ALBERT POPKINS.

